Service structure of paramedics yet to be completed

Posted on 10 months ago

RATODERO (PPI): Sindh government has yet to complete the service structure of paramedics serving in its health department even after the lapse of six years despite repeated protests, boycotts and strikes of paramedics working in government hospitals and healthcare facilities.
A service structure of paramedics, albeit incomplete, was first approved by previous coalition government in 2006. However, many posts of paramedics were not included in this service structure. The left out categories (from BPS-1 to 16 ) include laundry & generator operators, lab and theater supervisors, medical technologists, dieticians, ophthalmology technicians, transport supervisors, ETT technicians, hemo-dialysis technicians, biochemists, artists, laundry supervisors, head dispensers, sterilization assistants, wardens, blood bank technicians, cold chain technicians, dental assistants, mechanics, junior lab technicians, anesthetists technicians, physiotherapy aids, carpenters, ward attendants, ward orderly, bakers, velcers, telephone operators, TB assistants, head gardeners, cleaners, helpers, barbers, head cooks, computer operators, hostel clerks, sanitary jamadars, insect collectors, senior store keepers, ECG technicians, dental technicians, OT technicians, laboratory technicians, tailor masters and many other posts.
Moreover, the health department has not yet issued notification for 400 posts of paramedics which it has received from the districts governments, thus denying benefits to these employees many of whom are about to retire.
Health Department sources told PPI that the medical superintendents, principals, district health officers and director general health services Sindh have been communicated repeatedly to submitted lists of left out posts so that they could be included in formal service structure, but the lethargic bureaucracy is delaying the matter, due to which unrest is seen among the paramedics associations and the employees who plan to launch another protest movement for their demands.
Mehmood Chandio and Munawar Mangi, former leaders of Pakistan Paramedical Staff Association, Larkana Chapter told PPI that the Sindh health department is forcing paramedics to take to the roads like health workers of Punjab and paralyze hospital work in the province.
They said that had the government sincere in solving the issue the six years period was a pretty long period. They said that the government must issue notification for including the leftover categories in the formal service structure so that proper benefits could be paid to the employees near retirement.


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